Khabib Nurmagomedov: Top 5 moments

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the Mixed Martial Arts’ elite combatants. He’s fearsome, and there are legitimate reasons for that. The Eagle, as he is often called, lives in the mountainous Dagestan province of Russia, and that is exactly where his toughness and unbreakable will comes from.

The Eagle of Dagestan is one of the best grapplers in the world and perhaps the best grappler in all of MMA. Being a two-time combat Sambo champion, a Judo black belt and a European master of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat, transitioning into MMA, for Khabib, was never a huge problem. In fact, all of it seems like a walk in the park for the 29-year-old, given that he’s 25-0 and swings, tosses and smashes his opponents all around the cage.

He’s undoubtedly gifted. His skill set is far superior to any grappling compatriot, but what makes him so popular among the masses is – also his skill – but his broken English and ice-cold Russian monotone. When fighters like Conor McGregor say they are ‘going to do such and such’ to an opponent, that’s 9/10 times trash talk. But when Khabib says that, in his brutal accent, it seems as if he is stating a fact.

‘I am going to smash your face’ and he does that 25 times out of 25. When he says something, YOU BETTER, believe.

During his fight against Michael Johnson, Khabib grabbed the poor American and smashed him for 2 and a half rounds until Johnson gave up to a Kimura. During the fight, Khabib was not just ‘smashing’ Johnson, he was also asking him to give up, because Khabib did not want to hurt him anymore. ‘You have to give up *BAM* you know I deserve this *BAM*’ he told Johnson.

Khabib tells journalists he can fight both Tony Ferguson and Conor McGregor in one night

Anyone else making a statement like fighting two fighters in one night would sound plain stupid, but with Khabib, it is a different ball-game altogether. During a post-fight interview, when he was asked which one of the two aforementioned fighters he would like to fight, he said: “To be honest, I can fight both in one night. I fight and beat Tony and if UFC give me one hour rest, I can fight with Conor”

Khabib threatens to break Tony Ferguson’s arm

Khabib is a humble young man. He would not very often make such threats, but if you make him angry and try and get into his head, things might change dramatically. Tony has, ever since the two met, been getting on Khabib’s nerves and the Eagle would not think twice before disfiguring the Mexican-American’s anatomy.

“When I fought with Michael Johnson, when I took his arm for the kimura, I can break it but I go very slowly, be careful because I don’t want to give him injury. Because I understand (the) fight was finished. I need only to go a little bit slowly and he tapped. If Tony Ferguson gives me this arm, I’m going to break his arm and no referee can stop this,” Khabib said in his brutal, broken English.

Khabib destroys Barboza

Before the fight, a lot of talk was about Khabib’s weight issues, and that he had not faced someone as superior a striker as Barboza. The Eagle, however, did not bother much and even asked his coach to relax when he asked Khabib to finish Barboza during the fight. He dominated and decimated the poor Brazilian.

When asked why did he not Knock-out or Submit Barboza when he could have easily had, Khabib said he ‘wanted to fight all 15 minutes’. Not many fighters would say that. Unfortunately, for Barboza, this is how the fight played out.

Khabib calls Conor McGregor a ‘chicken’

That’s one of the most iconic moments in the history of UFC. He defeats Michael Johnson, and in the post match interview, blasts McGregor for easing his way to a title shot that the Russian so richly deserved.

“Beginning of the year, he (McGregor) tap like chicken (to Nate Diaz). End of the year, he fight for title. Crazy.”

He then asks Joe Rogan: “Hey, you the biggest analystic guy in MMA, 20 years. What do you think, I deserve title shot or not?” – Joe Rogan respond: “Yes, sir, you do.”

“YES, lets go with your chicken”, says Khabib and walks out to boos and jeers of Irish fans across the Arena.